Coffee & Tipping

I know there are several Coffee Purveyors and purchasers who frequent the forum, and the tipping posts that have popped up recently made me think about tipping for coffee.

What is the appropriate tip for a simple cup of coffee? Is there a difference between a cup of drip coffee and cappuccino? There is a clear difference in the amount of work involved.

Here's my specific situation:

My daily routine has me walking in to a Starbucks on my way to work (Hey- it's the only decent option on my way, I do prefer Heine Bros, but that would be a 2 mile detour). I walk in, get my "Venti Bold", which translates to a large black coffee, I pay and leave.

My total is $2.07 with tax. 93 cents seems a bit much for a tip, but that's what I leave. I'd feel cheap leaving nothing and it also wouldn't feel right to pull out a quarter or so. So, I've resigned myself to the fact that $3 is not bad to feed my daily caffeine habit.

Anyway, is there a tipping protocol for coffee?


Thanks,

Doug W

[Robin Garr]

Anyway, is there a tipping protocol for coffee?

Doug, I think you've pretty much worked it out for yourself. For small purchases, forget worrying about percentages. Just toss in a buck. That's my usual procedure for the tip jar at Heine Bros. (who goes to Starbucks?)

I wouldn't worry about tipping at starbucks. I have a friend that works there and it surprised me what a deal it was to work there. Makes like 10 bucks an hour, gets a free pound of coffee a week on top of getting great benefits. I only tip local places after finding that out. From whatever change is left to a dollar or two.

depends on the environment for sure
but i would consider it to be similar to bar service

you leave loose change on a per beer/drink basis
and tip additionally on the quality of service and the difficulty of your order

a hand pressed coffee from a local independent deserves a bigger tip than a regular pour from a mega corp

I wouldn't worry about tipping at starbucks. I have a friend that works there and it surprised me what a deal it was to work there. Makes like 10 bucks an hour, gets a free pound of coffee a week on top of getting great benefits. I only tip local places after finding that out. From whatever change is left to a dollar or two.

umm...10 bucks an hour is probably including the tips...when I was a barista I started at $7 and hour salary and eventually got up tp $11. The tips usually averaged out to around $2 to $2.50 an hour.

I don't really see how that's such a "sweet deal." most coffee places have short shifts (6 hours) and many employees to make sure if someone is sick that everything is covered (there's a LOT more work involved in baristaing than you'd think) so it's difficult to get as many hours as one might need. Do what robin said, throw in a buck or just all the change from your coffee. I remember some regulars would throw in 30-50 cents a days and on fridays or saturdays they'd throw in a buck...I think that's acceptable too.

If I order a coffee that requires nothing more than filling a cup I tip less than if I order a capuccino, which takes some time and effort. I always tip something, even at Starbucks.

It is interesting though because the other morning i went to Plehn's bakery. it is the same counter service as Heine Brothers. I ordered a lot of different stuff that had the young woman behind the counter working pretty hard to fill my order. I paid for my pastries and left, and I never considered tipping. Why not? Why is that any different than getting coffee?

Plehn's needs a tip jar. Should I also start tipping the person working the register at Kroger? Should everyone be tipped?

A dollar chucked in the tip jar is a nod to a job well done. Any change is appreciated. It is hard work being a good barista. So treat them well. It always makes me feel good if someone tips a dollar, even though the percentage is high, the sales are usually low. It's also an indication that the customer understands and enjoyed the service.

If the budget doesn't allow however, a nice smile and pleasant demeanor work just as well for me. Good coffee isn't cheap. I'd rather people be drinking it than worrying about tipping. I often get tipped in homemade cookies or other pleasantries from the neighborhood and that reminds me how healthy a relationship with coffee and local community can be.

Good enough reward.

I've noticed that the credit card receipts at most Starbucks don't include a tip line. Since I've completely embraced the idea of a cashless society, most times that means no tip for the barista from me. I've mention this to them a couple of times. If they did have a tip line or if I have some cash I'd tip $1, but I always order something in the $4 range.
Oddly enough, the credit card receipts at the Popeyes on Bardstown do have a tip line. I never have felt compelled to tip there, though

While it is true that tipping is optional, so is going out for any food or beverage - even coffee. Whether it's Starbucks or not, leave them a little sign of your thanks for a job well done. That being said, I think you should tip based on service. If I'm ordering coffee from a person that's continuing their conversation with coworkers about the upcoming/preceding evenings festivities, or worse being just plain rude (yes, it has happened - at LOCAL vendors!) the tip will reflect the level of service provided. But there WILL be a tip, even if it's just the change from $2.00 for a $1.50 order. All of us that are able to spend money on going out are lucky to have that ability, nothing wrong with "paying it forward".

OK, Richard, you're right - maybe not at fast food places - I was just talking about the coffee places.

. Should I also start tipping the person working the register at Kroger? Should everyone be tipped?

It does seem that we have gotten to the point where every underpaid employee in a service business is asking for the consumer to increase their personal income by tipping. If someone makes $8 dollars per hour, should the consumer feel compelled to take over where the employer left off and help them get to a living wage? Or, should we let the marketplace "clear" and force the hand of the employer to raise wages?

Not to start an economics discussion or anything ...

c'mon, why not? While you're at it, tip the person at the McDonald's drive thru!

Thanks for the feedback.

I guess it does get a little in to the corporate versus local thing for me too.

When my routine had me driving through the Chenowith Lane Heine Bros to pick up a large black coffee on my way to work I always left whatever change there was without even thinking about it.

I suppose I put Starbucks more in the McDonalds realm, with the big exception that they do provide more of a personalized service in the form of baristas who do provide something more than counter service. I rarely use their expertise, but it is there.

Thinking about this a little, I do vary my tipping somewhat on local versus corporate, which I admit doesn't make sense. I tend to tip at Graeters, but not at Baskin Robbins. Both locations near me have a tip jar. I'm not saying this makes sense, I'm just now thinking about the last few times I've been to Tip Jar type places.

OK, Richard, you're right - maybe not at fast food places - I was just talking about the coffee places.

Why not? I'd think pouring a cup of coffee is easier/less labor intensive than frying up a bunch of burgers.

And why not tip at movie theaters? Don't the minimum wage earners scooping the popcorn and pouring the sodas need the same consideration?

I guess I just don't understand the distinction. Is it because they just don't think to set out a tip jar?

Are you allowed to tip at Mc Donald's? What is their policy on tipping? Perhaps they don't want to encourage tipping as to under sell local business?
I actually don't mind the concept of tipping any drive thru restaurant. People who work hard for minimum wage, for whatever reason, deserve a little help. in my opinion.